by S. H. Jucha
33: Conundrum
“We might try to find out,” Hector said, and the admiral’s heads turned to regard him.
“Contact the Kirmler captain?” asked Adrianna, to clarify Hector’s remark.
“Precisely, Admiral, it’s an option,” Hector replied.
“We could be showing our hand,” Alphons countered. “If the Kirmler envoy learns what we know, he might order the captain to fire the engines, execute an immediate launch, and flee the system. We haven’t the ships in position to intercept the missiles.”
“That’s a possibility, Admiral,” Hector replied, “and I admit it has significant probability.”
“What are the other possibilities?” Adrianna requested.
“The Kirmler captain might not be aware of the envoy’s plan,” Hector explained. “He or she could be a powerful ally in preventing a launch.”
“My concern is that we’re talking exclusively about the Kirmler ship, but the envoy has eight more individuals in the clusters,” Ellie interjected.
Lydia searched the Sisterhood’s exhaustive data records on the envoys. “According to the sisters,” she said, “the eight associates of the Kirmler envoy are senior individuals, and the two clusters had formed a tight-knit group.”
“That’s not good,” Alphons commented.
Lydia used the Sisterhood’s administrational data banks, which contained information extracted from Artifice about historic events. It was valuable, when trying to understand the motivations of the various races.
“Admiral,” Lydia said, interrupting the conversation, “I believe I’ve found what drives the Kirmler envoy’s two clusters. It’s revenge.”
“Explain,” Ellie requested.
“According to data gleaned from Artifice,” Lydia replied, “each member of the two clusters belongs to a race who had been reduced by Artifice.”
“Reduced not eliminated?” Adrianna queried.
“Correct, Admiral,” Lydia replied. “These incidents took place early in Artifice’s rule. Their mention was buried in a list of dates, the names of races, and their star locations. There’s no mention of the reasons for Artifice’s actions.”
“If the reductions took place a millennium ago or more, Admiral,” Hector said, “the races would have had time to recover. But their anger may never have been forgotten.”
“That’s really not good,” Alphons repeated. “It means these envoys are committed to visiting pain and destruction on the Talusians for inventing Artifice.”
“It doesn’t tell us whether the officers and the crews would be sympathetic to the envoys’ attitudes,” Hector said. “Nonetheless, the information points to contact creating greater risk. Well researched, Lydia. Admiral, I’d like to rescind my original suggestion.”
“Too bad,” Ellie remarked, “I was starting to like the idea. However, we mustn’t forget that the envoys were directed by their leaders. Who knows how the military feels about what the envoys have planned?”
“Lydia, please investigate the Boobaffle cluster in the same manner in which you uncovered the Kirmler clusters’ histories,” Hector requested.
Several minutes later, Lydia replied, “These are relatively younger races, and the records don’t indicate any harsh treatment by Artifice. The five home worlds formed an alliance to keep them safe from invasions. Then they were discovered by a race whose ship carried Artifice’s insidious code, and they were swept into the federacy.”
“This means that, more than likely, the Boobaffle cluster would be horrified by the extent to which the Kirmler group is intending to exact its revenge,” Alphons said. “If so, then the Boobaffle envoy and captain are telling us the truth about their willingness to play along with the Kirmler.”
“I would agree,” Adrianna added. “The Kirmler clusters would be a scary group to cross. If they’re willing to launch against a planet, there’s nothing to stop them from firing on the battleships of envoys, who they feel betrayed them.”
“I’m still reticent about approving the Boobaffle plan without some sort of assurance, but I can’t think of any,” Ellie said.
“Then the obvious course, Admiral, would be to prepare for the worst actions from every ship,” Hector said.
“According to the Boobaffle story, we know the locations where both wedges will form,” Adrianna noted.
Ellie sighed, briefly hung her head, made her decision, and straightened. “Lydia, I need calculations for the number and placements of NNEMPs to inactivate two wedges of nine and eight battleships, respectively.”
“To what degree, Admiral?” Lydia asked.
“I want totality,” Ellie replied, her face hard. “If they get off a first salvo, I want them never to fire another missile.”
After a moment of thought, Ellie added, “Hector, I want two conference groups formed, one for each cluster. I want to be able to address the bridges. Maybe we can warn them away from any foolish actions.”
“Are you considering preemptive actions, Admiral?” Adrianna asked.
“Considering it, but I haven’t made up my mind,” Ellie replied.
“I have your calculations, Admiral,” Lydia said. “Three weapons at maximum yield would inactivate the lead five ships in the wedge. The other two or three ships in the wedges would be available to provide rescue.”
“Not in this case, Lydia,” Ellie replied. “If we must use the NNEMPs, then we’re past the point of trying to save the lives of the crews. We’ll need to be worrying about the Talusians’ ships, our fleet, and the planet’s population.”
“Understood, Admiral. Then you would need five weapons to incapacitate each wedge,” Lydia replied.
“Adrianna, you have the Kirmler wedge. Alphons, you take the Boobaffle group,” Ellie directed. “Get your Tridents in position. Use the minimum number of ships for the NNEMP attacks. We might need every warship to interdict missiles and save the planet.”
“Admiral, we’re able to prepare the city-ship’s travelers to act as drones. They could be used to take out the greater missiles, the weapons that might be planet killers,” Hector suggested.
“Make it happen, Hector,” Ellie replied.
* * * * *
The following morning, Hector and Ellie dropped planetside to resume the arbitration.
He and Ellie were seated across from each other, but Hector determined the conversation was too sensitive to be overheard by other passengers.
Ellie paused to let Hector assimilate the points of her argument. She wanted, hoped, he’d come to the same conclusion she had, and she wasn’t disappointed.
Hec
tor sent.
Ellie shared her decision with Alphons and Adrianna, as Hector and she exited the traveler outside the envoys’ hall.
Entering the temporary building, Ellie encountered Sargut and his entourage.
Sargut stared at and thought exclusively of Ellie. Then he sent,
Ellie checked that there was no one else on the link. Then she replied,
The president’s link abruptly dropped. He’d shifted his eyesight to someone behind Ellie.
Turning around, Ellie saw Quizra approach. She realized Sargut probably thought that he shouldn’t be seen speaking privately with her. She kept the smile off her face that threatened to form. Sargut had yet to learn that private implant communications weren’t detectable unless the face inadvertently revealed the preoccupation.
“President Sargut, excuse us,” Quizra said. “The admiral and I must speak prior to the start of the negotiations.”
Ellie signaled Hector, and the three of them retired to a private room.
“Yes, Commander,” Ellie said, when Hector tapped the wall-mounted panel to close the door.
“I think trouble is brewing on the ring,” Quizra said.
Ellie offered the commander a chair in the small sitting room. It was obvious that Quizra was unaccustomed to bending his neck from its three-meter height to speak to individuals who were less than two meters.
“Go on, Commander,” Ellie encouraged, when everyone was seated.
“During our meetings, when tensions were high, multiple envoys abruptly left the hall. You’re probably aware of these members,” Quizra said. “I suspect these envoys might be colluding. They’ve not left the system, which means they’re intending to disrupt the negotiations from on high.”
“In what manner, Commander?” Hector asked.
“They don’t have many options,” Quizra replied. “I suspect the Talusians will be threatened with force to make them comply with the envoys’ demands.”
“The only weapons capable of backing that type of threat would be the battleships’ missile arsenals. Isn’t that correct?” Ellie asked.
“Yes, Admiral, our ships have nothing but missiles and close-in guns. Those are the only armament that Artifice allowed the races,” Quizra replied.
“We’ve been monitoring the communications of the seventeen envoys who left the hall,” Ellie said. “They’ve not been discussing plans, except in code. Do you have an idea what the communications might mean?”
The horny scales on Quizra’s face flexed several times in a quick opening and closing. “Your pardon, Admiral, your tech capabilities are more advanced than the races know.”
“That tech is on the negotiating table,” Ellie reminded Quizra.
“I wish I could add some information,” Quizra said “but I came late to the negotiations. I made it clear to the entire hall that I wouldn’t join a cluster or participate in any colluding.”
“Understood, Commander. Anything else?” Ellie requested.
“One thing, Admiral,” Quizra said. “If action appears imminent, the envoys on my team and I would like to return to our ships before that happens.”
“Our concern, Commander,” Ellie said, which caused Quizra to glance toward Hector, “is that by the time we detect an overt move by any of the seventeen envoys, the friendlies must be underway. It would be dangerous to have you aboard travelers, sailing toward your ships, which might be engaged in defense of the planet against massive missile launches.”
“Please keep us informed, Admiral,” Quizra replied, rising. “If there’s an opportunity to return to our ships, we wish to take advantage of it.”
“Understood, Commander. I’ll try to make it happen, if possible.”
Quizra tipped his head and left the room.
“You chose not to tell the commander about what we’ve learned,” Hector pointed out.
“It’s difficult to know who to trust,” Ellie replied.
“You don’t trust the commander?” Hector said. He was surprised by Ellie’s statement.
“The commander? Yes,” Ellie replied. “Who he might speak with regarding the information we share? No.”
“Loose lips sink ships,” Hector replied, “or, in this case, cause them to launch missiles.”
“You must remember, Hector, that the rest of us don’t absorb vids and stories at the rate you do,” Ellie remarked. “Despite that, I get your meaning.”
Ellie checked with Miriamette on the statuses of the negotiating teams.
Next, Ellie connected with Lydia.
Lydia suggested.
Ellie sent.
Finally, Ellie conferenced her rear admirals.
<Étienne insisted on overwatch of the Kirmler potential formation area and the wedge’s exit route,> Alphons continued.
Ellie understood Étienne’s remarks and Alain’s pain. The entire fleet was growing tired of constant conflict. Despite the technological advancement of the races, some leaders still coveted power and sought to increase it via the domination of others.